TIFF in collaboration with Instagram recently announced the launch of TIFFxInstagram Shorts Festival, a new digital shorts competition, which invites aspiring and established filmmakers from around the globe to upload their original 60-second-or-less short using Instagram video. Competition opens today; deadline for submissions is July 20, 2016. To submit, upload your entry on Instagram with hashtag #TIFFxInstagram and complete the submission form at tiff.net/shortsfestival.

We know you love TIFF and Instagram, so we thought this was something that everyone would enjoy, whether you plan to submit on not, it will be very interesting to see what budding filmmakers and social videographers will come up with for this brand new festival innovation.

“More than 500 million people are using Instagram each month for visual inspiration and creative expression, including video. Over the last six months, the total time people spent watching video on Instagram has increased by 150%. Filmmakers are already taking advantage of this platform to promote their work and to create films for the Instagram community. We are looking forward to be collaborating with TIFF to celebrate the craft of short filmmaking through the TIFFxInstagram Shorts Festival.” — Marne Levine, Chief Operating Officer, Instagram.

TIFF programmers will select 30 finalists, which will be showcased on TIFF’s website and Instagram channel from August 8 to 17. A six-person jury comprised of film industry professionals and influential Instagram community members will then select one winner forJudge’s Choice Award. Judges include director Ava DuVernay (Selma) (@directher); writer-director Xavier Dolan (Mommy, I Killed My Mother) (@xavierdolan); music video director and photographer Nabil Elderkin, (Kanye West “Mercy”, John Legend “All of Me”) (@nabildo); and stop-motion animation artist Rachel Ryle (@rachelryle). In addition to the jury awards, online audiences can vote for their favourite film by liking it on Instagram. Voting closes August 17. The film with the most “likes” will receive the Fan Favourite Award. Awards will be announced August 18.